Why is this goal important?
Homelessness among America’s veterans is a source of national embarrassment. On any given night in the United States 200,000 veterans of the United States armed forces are homeless, according to statistics provided by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. This group also reports that nationally 23 percent of all homeless Americans are veterans; 33 percent of all homeless males are veterans.                                                          

A survey conducted in Minnesota by the Wilder Foundation in October of 2006 estimates the total number of homeless and precariously housed in Minnesota on any given night is close to 9,200. This study identified 624 homeless veterans, overall representing 13 percent of all homeless adults and 24 percent of all homeless men. Many of these individuals have multiple barriers to attaining employment, including chemical dependency and mental health issues, lack of transportation, lack of stable and affordable housing; many have been chronically unemployed or under employed for many years. Individuals without a stable employment situation can remain
chronically homeless.
 

How will this goal be accomplished?
To break the cycle of unemployment and homelessness, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) and the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV) cooperatively offer innovative programs in the areas of housing, employment, legal assistance, training and education. Approximately 450 homeless veterans participate in a MACV and MDVA homeless initiative program per year. Successful program participants are able to attain long term, stable housing and employment opportunities, the most necessary elements to ensure that participants break the vicious cycle of homelessness.

What is the Minnesota Department of Veterans' Affairs progress to date?
The target set for this goal is that 50 percent of program participants will remain in a stable employment situation at six months following completion of the program. Of the veterans who participated in the program between July 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006, 68 percent were employed as of December 31, 2006.

Learn more at:

Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV)
 www.mac-v.org

Why is this goal important?
County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs) are employed by the respective counties in Minnesota. They serve as the first point of contact when most
veterans and their dependents apply for benefits and services.
These CVSOs are critical to the success of the Minnesota
Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) by providing a locally
available and readily accessible point of contact for information
and assistance provided by both MDVA and the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs. Annually the veterans of
Minnesota, their dependents and survivors receive in excess of
one billion dollars in federal veterans benefits, goods and
services.

CVSOs are required by state statute to be certified to serve in
that capacity by the Commissioner. Certification requires
meeting educational and training standards developed in
cooperation with the CVSOs. MDVA coordinates and provides
quality education and training opportunities to CVSOs who are
tested yearly to ensure they possess the knowledge to provide the best quality information and services to Minnesota’s veterans, their dependents and survivors. In 2006, 100 percent of CVSOs were certified by the Commissioner of MDVA.

How will this goal be accomplished?
MDVA provides numerous educational and training opportunities to CVSOs, their assistants and support staff. MDVA has developed a performance based survey to measure satisfaction of CVSOs, their assistants and support staff with the programs and services offered by and through the MDVA, especially in the areas of education and training.

In 2006, MDVA also surveyed this core group to measure their satisfaction in the areas of responsiveness to inquiries, assistance with claims representation, and timeliness of claims processing. The 2006 target was set at 95 percent satisfaction with these services, and those CVSOs who responded registered a 98 percent satisfaction rate.
 

What is the Minnesota Department of Veterans' Affairs progress to date?
The number of CVSOs who were “extremely satisfied” or “satisfied” with MDVA services has exceeded the target of 85 percent in both 2002 and 2003. In 2004 those responding “extremely satisfied” or “satisfied” were 98 percent; in 2005 and 2006 this number was 100 percent. MDVA intends to keep the target at 98 percent.

Why is this goal important?
Burial in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Little Falls is the last, and in some instances, the only benefit some Minnesota veterans receive from the State of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) strives to ensure that the State Veterans Cemetery provides a dignified, worthy resting place for those who chose to be interred in this cemetery.

Survivors of deceased veterans deserve to be assured that the final resting place of their loved one is aesthetically pleasing and maintained in a manner befitting the sacrifices these veterans have borne in their service to our state and nation.

It is the goal of the MDVA that 98 percent of those surveyed are satisfied with the appearance of the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery and that a like number approve of the services provided by cemetery staff.
 

How will this goal be accomplished?
MDVA, through cemetery staff, surveys the decedents' next of kin to solicit their comments on the overall appearance of the cemetery and satisfaction with the services provided by cemetery staff, as well as solicits suggestions or recommendations for improvements. The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery is in the process of a significant improvement project designed to better meet the needs of those veterans who choose to be buried at this facility, as well as the needs of their survivors at this most difficult time.

What is the Minnesota Department of Veterans' Affairs progress to date?
MDVA has established a new target that 98 percent of those who are surveyed and who respond are “extremely satisfied” or “satisfied” with the appearance of the State Veterans Cemetery.

The latest survey results, from January through December 2006, indicated that:
         100 percent of respondents were extremely satisfied or satisfied with the appearance of
             the State Veterans Cemetery; and
         80 percent of respondents indicated they were extremely satisfied with the appearance
             of the State Veterans Cemetery.

Effective July 1, 2007, MDVA will start surveying funeral directors who arrange interments at the Cemetery as to their level of satisfaction with the appearance and operation of the Cemetery.
 

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